FOOTBALLING legend, Sir Trevor Brooking visted St Luke’s Hospice to see a lifelong fan from South Ockendon just a few days before he died.

Dene Prentice’s dream came true when the former West Ham and England star came through the doors at the Basildon home.

Sir Trevor also brought along a special gift for Dene, a signed 1980 FA Cup Final Wembley shirt.

Whilst at St. Luke’s he also chatted to other patients, visitors, volunteers and staff.

Sir Trevor praised all Hospice staff and volunteers for their dedication and support commenting that Hospice care has a special quality that seems to be able to lift patients and families in what are very difficult times.

]]>http://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/02/12/sir-trevor-brooking-visits-south-ockendons-dene-st-lukes-hospice/feed/1Charity Father and Son Rugby match for Alzheimers set for Thurrock Rugby Clubhttp://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/01/29/charity-father-son-rugby-match-alzheimers-set-thurrock-rugby-club/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/01/29/charity-father-son-rugby-match-alzheimers-set-thurrock-rugby-club/#commentsMon, 29 Jan 2018 17:29:52 +0000http://www.yourthurrock.com/?p=101182A MAN from Thurrock is set to host a Father and Son rugby match in order to raise awareness of Alzheimers and Dementia. Ben Northfield said: “I recently lost my Grandad and Nan in the space of only eight months to Alzheimers and Dementia, My Nan had Alzheimers for nine years. For six of those […]

]]>A MAN from Thurrock is set to host a Father and Son rugby match in order to raise awareness of Alzheimers and Dementia.

Ben Northfield said:

“I recently lost my Grandad and Nan in the space of only eight months to Alzheimers and Dementia, My Nan had Alzheimers for nine years. For six of those years, my Grandad was my Nans carer in their own home, but two years ago my Grandad was then diagnosed with dementia and had to go into care.

We then fought as a family to get my Nan and Grandad together in the same home in Brentwood, this is where they lived out the remaining of their time happy and together like they would have wanted.

As horrible as it is to say it is a relief that they are no longer suffering. They are now in a place together happy again.

“The reason I am running this event for the second year running is to make people aware that this illness is horrible, and that looking into the eyes of someone you love and cherish so much and then not having a clue who you are is really upsetting.

Last year, we raised a massive £1,500 for the Alzheimers Society and it was amazing, we had 40 fathers and sons taking part and 600+ supporters.

“This year, we are going for double that!! So please get behind the event whether you come on the night or you donate to this page I would appreciate it so much.”

]]>http://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/01/29/charity-father-son-rugby-match-alzheimers-set-thurrock-rugby-club/feed/1Cruise and Maritime Voyages raise over £10,000 for Little Havens Hospicehttp://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/01/17/cruise-maritime-voyages-raise-10000-little-havens-hospice/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/01/17/cruise-maritime-voyages-raise-10000-little-havens-hospice/#respondWed, 17 Jan 2018 08:16:44 +0000http://www.yourthurrock.com/?p=100677PURFLEET based Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) has raised over £10,000 for local charity Havens Hospices following a fund raising event held recently onboard their cruise ship Magellan – a total amount of £10,977.35 was raised with over 200 guests attending the event. Bob McGowan – Head of Customer Services at CMV said “Cruise & […]

]]>PURFLEET based Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) has raised over £10,000 for local charity Havens Hospices following a fund raising event held recently onboard their cruise ship Magellan – a total amount of £10,977.35 was raised with over 200 guests attending the event.

Bob McGowan – Head of Customer Services at CMV said “Cruise & Maritime Voyages has proudly been supporting Havens Hospices for the past two years and over that time we have, through the generosity of our guests and passengers, raised over £100,000. On board Magellan last month we raised over £10,000. We would like to thank all our guests who came to the event as without them we would not be able to support Havens Hospices as much as we have. We look forward to hosting onboard again this December to raise more funds for such a great local cause. This charity is both local to our head office and homeport Tilbury of our ships Columbus & Magellan.”

Lydia Plews, Corporate Fundraiser for Havens Hospices said, “We are very grateful to Cruise & Maritime Voyages for hosting an incredible evening, it really was the ideal way to finish a successful year. By donating all the proceeds from the night to Havens Hospices they are truly helping us fulfil our promise of ‘Making every day count’. Havens Hospices must raise at least £100,000 a week to be there for everyone who needs us. This is only possible because of the kindness of companies like Cruise & Maritime Voyages and all our wonderful supporters across Essex, who come to these events, donate regularly or fundraise their way!”

CMV will be hosting another on board charity event benefitting Havens Hospices on Friday 7 December (2018) on Magellan, guests who are interested can find out more by contacting Lydia Plews at Havens Hospices – LPlews@havenshospices.org.uk

]]>http://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/01/17/cruise-maritime-voyages-raise-10000-little-havens-hospice/feed/0Autism meeting in South Ockendonhttp://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/01/15/autism-meeting-south-ockendon/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/01/15/autism-meeting-south-ockendon/#respondMon, 15 Jan 2018 15:32:17 +0000http://www.yourthurrock.com/?p=100574THE THURROCK Autism support group gives you a chance to meet other parents/carers of children on the Autism spectrum. It's a great place to chat, share experiences and even ask for advice from others who just "get it".

THE THURROCK Autism support group gives you a chance to meet other parents/carers of children on the Autism spectrum. It’s a great place to chat, share experiences and even ask for advice from others who just “get it”.

There is always plenty of tea, coffee and friendly faces.
Don’t be shy – why not come along and see for yourself.

Find them at 73 Deveron Gardens, South Ockendon, RM15 5ET.

If you have any questions please message us or email at nasthurrock.group@nas.org.uk.

THURROCK residents Emma Mulcahy and Sarah Keeling from Grays will be holding a charity Pink Ball in aid of Breast Cancer Now, the UK’s largest breast cancer charity dedicated to funding research into this devastating disease.

Emma and Sarah are going to hold the sell-out 320 person event at the Civic Hall, Blackshots, Grays on Saturday 27th January 2018 and are hoping to raise over £5000 for Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving research. They are asking local businesses to kindly donate raffle prizes to help make the event a huge success.

Emma Mulcahy from St George’s Avenue said:

“We’re really looking forward to hosting the Pink Ball and we hope to raise lots of money for this very worthy cause, which is so close to our hearts. Thanks to incredible research developments, more women are surviving breast cancer than ever before, but around 1,000 women still die from the disease every month in the UK.

“We really hope that with this event we can help Breast Cancer Now get closer to their aim that by 2050, everyone who is diagnosed with breast cancer will live. We want everybody in Thurrock to join us and fundraise for Breast Cancer Now’s vital research, to help stop women dying of breast cancer in the future.”

Emma and Sarah lost their childhood friend, Chadwell-St-Mary born Sharon Hodgson (nee Allkins) to the disease in June 2016. Sharon left behind two young daughters and had been friends with Emma and Sarah for over 20 years after they met at Woodside and Torells School. Emma and Sarah ran the London Marathon for Breast Cancer Now in April 2017 and after hosting a number of fundraising events, raised over £14.000 for the charity, which will pay for over 560 hours of research.

“We are so grateful for Emma and Sarah’s wonderful support. We hope their Pink Ball will be a big success whilst raising much-needed funds for breast cancer research.

“Breast cancer is a devastating disease that still cuts short the lives of around 11,500 women and 80 men each year. We want to change that.

“With every cake we bake and bucket we shake, we’re powering research that’s finding new ways to prevent, detect and treat breast cancer, until the day when we stop it once and for all. And with supporters like Emma and Sarah by our side, we can make it happen faster. We wish them the very best with their event!”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. One in eight women will develop breast cancer, and today alone more than 30 women will die from the disease.

Fundraise for Breast Cancer Now and you can help to stop breast cancer. Every action, big or small, gets us a step closer. Find out how you can get involved at breastcancernow.org/get-involved

]]>http://www.yourthurrock.com/2018/01/08/two-grays-woman-set-host-charity-pink-ball-memory-friend/feed/0Port of Tilbury staff give 117 gifts to Changing Pathwayshttp://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/12/22/port-tilbury-star-give-117-gifts-changing-pathways/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/12/22/port-tilbury-star-give-117-gifts-changing-pathways/#respondFri, 22 Dec 2017 15:56:42 +0000http://www.yourthurrock.com/?p=99689EMPLOYEES at the Port of Tilbury have made a generous donation of 117 gifts to Changing Pathways, just in time for Christmas.

]]>EMPLOYEES at the Port of Tilbury have made a generous donation of 117 gifts to Changing Pathways, just in time for Christmas.

Changing Pathways, formerly known as Basildon Women’s Aid, is a domestic abuse charity working across the areas of Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford and Thurrock. The charity provides free and confidential services to support people who are currently experiencing, or have previously experienced domestic abuse. The port has supported the local Thurrock centre for many years.

Paul Dale, Asset and Site Director at the Port of Tilbury said: “The team at the port have once again demonstrated their generosity to Changing Pathways and we hope that the donations will provide some festive cheer.”

]]>http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/12/22/port-tilbury-star-give-117-gifts-changing-pathways/feed/0Old Courthouse in Grays brings Christmas cheer to St Luke’s Hospicehttp://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/12/18/old-courthouse-gray-springs-christmas-cheer-st-lukes-hospice/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/12/18/old-courthouse-gray-springs-christmas-cheer-st-lukes-hospice/#respondMon, 18 Dec 2017 17:02:42 +0000http://www.yourthurrock.com/?p=99491ST. Luke’s Hospice were surprised and delighted to receive gifts from tenants and staff based in the ‘Old Courthouse, Grays’ who held a Christmas Tree Gift Drive in support of the Hospice.

]]>http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/12/18/old-courthouse-gray-springs-christmas-cheer-st-lukes-hospice/feed/0Great work for Christmas by Stanford-Le-Hope fundraising teamhttp://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/12/17/great-work-christmas-stanford-le-hope-fundraising-team/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/12/17/great-work-christmas-stanford-le-hope-fundraising-team/#respondSun, 17 Dec 2017 17:41:32 +0000http://www.yourthurrock.com/?p=99463THE Stanford Le Hope and surrounding area fundraising team have now come to the end of the initial fundraising for their Christmas present appeal. They spent every weekend from 1st October to 2nd December in Iceland in Corringham running a raffle and bag packing and have raised a fantastic £2520.88. A spokesperson said: “We would […]

]]>THE Stanford Le Hope and surrounding area fundraising team have now come to the end of the initial fundraising for their Christmas present appeal. They spent every weekend from 1st October to 2nd December in Iceland in Corringham running a raffle and bag packing and have raised a fantastic £2520.88.

A spokesperson said: “We would like to thank all the generous iceland shoppers firstly and of course all Iceland staff in particular Penny and Deb picture attached receiving a little thanks for their superb support with the raffle which alone raised £1000.

Much of the money raised has now been spent buying presents to then be distributed across the borough to people in care homes who may have no family to spend Christmas with this year, adults and children in refuges, some special local children and children in hospital over the festive period.

We are now busy wrapping thousands of presents before further donations of gifts arrive. A few local schools in the area have been fantastic in supporting our appeal, Arthur Bugler for the second year running have a giving tree in their reception and Corringham primary and St Cleres have come on board with the idea as well this year. Parents of pupils at the schools can take in present donations which we will then collect within the next week or so.

We are hoping to be able to distribute around four thousand plus gifts this year with an increase on last years three thousand.

We want to make as many people as possible smile showing that there are still people about who like to do things for others without expecting anything in return, put together in the short poem which will be accompanying each gift:

“We have one wish this Christmas for people young and old, we hope that everyone is happy with no one left out in the cold,

We want to spread lots of cheer and ensure people forget their issues, we hope to see tears of joy requiring lots of tissues,

But most of all what we would like is for people to know we care, spending Christmas with them and having gifts to share”

If anyone would like to donate gift items for they can be taken into any of the above schools plus Mama’s Cabin cafe in Corringham, RJE property services in Lampits Hill & Dr Dev’s surgery in The sorrells who have all been superb acting as drop off point to for gifts.

]]>SEVEN voluntary organisations are receiving an early Christmas present from the Essex & Suffolk Water Community Fund.

Grants totalling nearly £9,000 have been awarded from the Fund to charities and voluntary organisations in Essex, Suffolk and East London. The Fund is managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF).

Essex & Suffolk Water established their community Fund with ECF in 2003, to give support to a wide range of local projects and organisations now and in the future. The Fund has since awarded over 125 grants, totalling more than £95,000.

Organisations to benefit from the 2017/28 round of grants are:

• BATIAS Independent Advocacy Service, Basildon – £1,800 to run monthly information mornings on personal safety for people with learning disabilities, helping them to live independently.

• Melbourne Project, Chelmsford – £1,000 to support a homework club for local children and an older people’s club.

• Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome, Maldon – £1,000 towards a new permanent heritage exhibition focusing on the role of women in WWI.

• Thurrock Mencap Society – £2,000 to run a new healthy lifestyle programme for members with special needs.

• The ARC (Adult Resource Centre), Thurrock – £1,000 to help purchase sensory and activity equipment for a group supporting adults with special needs.

• Palgrave and District Community Council, Suffolk – £1,500 to buy new equipment for community playing field.

• Aanchal Women’s Aid, Redbridge – £500 for service that supports women rebuilding their lives following domestic and sexual violenc

]]>http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/12/14/two-thurrock-charities-receive-cash-boost-essex-community-fund/feed/0Give a Gift Launches at intu Lakesidehttp://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/11/14/give-gift-launches-intu-lakeside/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/11/14/give-gift-launches-intu-lakeside/#respondTue, 14 Nov 2017 11:22:49 +0000http://www.yourthurrock.com/?p=98278AS the nights become darker and the weather gets a little colder, volunteers across lots of organisations have been busy making the final preparations for the much anticipated ‘Give a Gift’ project at intu Lakeside.

AS the nights become darker and the weather gets a little colder, volunteers across lots of organisations have been busy making the final preparations for the much anticipated ‘Give a Gift’ project at intu Lakeside.

The Give a Gift project is a simple idea where people are asked to donate a present to a local child who is unlikely to receive a gift on Christmas morning.

A very large tree – kindly donated by Your DIY centre in Corringham – will be the shop centre piece and will be decorated by hundreds of stars. Each star represents a child and displays their age, gender and a name so presents can be personalised.

Portfolio Holder for Social Services, Cllr Sue Little says: “We ask people to come and visit the store, choose a star and purchase a present. The present can simply be returned to the shop where our volunteer elves will wrap and deliver it in time for Christmas.”

“This year is undoubtedly going to bigger and better, intu Lakeside have kindly donated a large retail space in an extremely popular location which means more people are walking by and may choose to donate.”

The shop is located on the second floor at House of Fraser end of the centre.

Cllr Little added: “Besides donating gifts, there are other things we need help with to make the project work – like wrapping paper and tape!

“We are also on the look-out for anybody who would like to donate some hours and help run the tree at Lakeside. If you have a few spare hours, please contact communicationsteam@thurrock.gov.uk”

To donate, or volunteer to help out at the tree, please visit: thurrock.gov.uk/GiveAGift

]]>http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/11/14/give-gift-launches-intu-lakeside/feed/0Olivia’s Night: Great Gatsby theme evening at The Old Regent.http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/11/14/great-gatsby-theme-evening-old-regent/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/11/14/great-gatsby-theme-evening-old-regent/#respondTue, 14 Nov 2017 09:04:47 +0000http://www.yourthurrock.com/?p=98265 Essex Event Hire and Darren Lilley are raising money for a little girl Olivia who sadly has an inoperable brain tumour. They have been truly blown away by people they have never even met, you the Facebook community. They say ” The offers of support and donations have been truly humbling. So thank […]

Essex Event Hire and Darren Lilley are raising money for a little girl Olivia who sadly has an inoperable brain tumour. They have been truly blown away by people they have never even met, you the Facebook community.

They say ” The offers of support and donations have been truly humbling. So thank you, and please if you would like to help then feel free to contact me on here.

“We already have some great prizes donated for Raffle & Auction. So if any one would like to come along, we will have a great night and hopefully give this little girl and her family an amazing holiday.”

A CHRISTMAS appeal from the Stanford Le Hope and Surrounding Area Fundraising team .

From Paul Luke

“I just wanted to provide an update on our Christmas presents appeal fundraiser.

“We have been busy fundraising in Iceland, Corringham since October 1st and are now nearing the sum of £2000. This has all been donated by the lovely Iceland customers with over half the money from a raffle we have been running.

We will soon be collating numbers of present recipients to include Basildon hospital children’s wards, a local Down syndrome group of children, local care home residents across Thurrock and Basildon, the mental health units across the borough and people in the community with no family.

We will also look to include a random act of kindness project within this.

We are now wanting to put out an appeal to anyone across Thurrock and Basildon to find anyone who’s Christmas we could brighten up? These could be people with no family, someone who’s had a bad time of things recently or anyone for whatever reason who maybe spending Christmas alone this year.

If anyone would like to donate any presents for our appeal individually or as a group please contact Paul Luke on 07759 022229 or paul_luke@hotmail.co.uk.

Please use the above details if you know of any individuals or families we could give presents to also.

]]>http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/11/06/christmas-appeal-stanford-fundraising-team/feed/0Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock Christmas Concerthttp://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/10/28/rotary-club-grays-thurrock-christmas-concert/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/10/28/rotary-club-grays-thurrock-christmas-concert/#respondSat, 28 Oct 2017 09:28:53 +0000http://www.yourthurrock.com/?p=97339THIS will be the 8th Annual Christmas Concert, presented by the Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock at the Civic Hall, Grays.

]]>http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/10/28/rotary-club-grays-thurrock-christmas-concert/feed/0Stanford-Le-Hope fundraisers raise money for football kithttp://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/10/24/stanford-le-hope-fundraisers-raise-money-football-kit/
http://www.yourthurrock.com/2017/10/24/stanford-le-hope-fundraisers-raise-money-football-kit/#respondTue, 24 Oct 2017 09:17:55 +0000http://www.yourthurrock.com/?p=97028THE Stanford Le Hope and Surrounding Area Fundraising team held a charity quiz night earlier in the year. The money raised allowed them to purchase a whole new kit for the boys. A spokesperson said: “We are now moving onto our Christmas present appeal and started our bucket collections and bag packs in Iceland in […]

]]>THE Stanford Le Hope and Surrounding Area Fundraising team held a charity quiz night earlier in the year. The money raised allowed them to purchase a whole new kit for the boys.

A spokesperson said: “We are now moving onto our Christmas present appeal and started our bucket collections and bag packs in Iceland in Corringham yesterday.

“We will now be there every weekend throughout October and November with our mascot “Bee Kind” and are also selling raffle tickets. The raffle will include prizes such as a TV, a wine hamper and a selection of superb sporting drawings from a local artist including this fantastic sketch of the only fools and horses gang!

“Please come and see us in store and help us make lots of people smile this Christmas. In advance we would like to thank the Iceland Corringham team and all their lovely customers.

“If anyone would like to volunteer on this project please give Paul Luke a call on 07759022229